Saudi Arabia has unveiled HUMAIN, a new AI company chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and backed by the nation’s $940 billion Public Investment Fund (PIF), marking a significant step in the kingdom’s Vision 2030 to diversify its economy beyond oil.
Key Points:
- ‘Humain’ aims to build advanced AI infrastructure, including data centers and Arabic large language models.
- The launch aligns with the Saudi-US Investment Forum, featuring tech leaders like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.
- Saudi Arabia is committing substantial investments to become a global AI hub, partnering with firms like Google Cloud and Salesforce.
The establishment of HUMAIN is a strategic move by Saudi Arabia to position itself at the forefront of AI development. The company plans to develop cutting-edge AI technologies, including one of the world’s most powerful Arabic large language models, and to construct next-generation data centers.
The timing of HUMAIN's launch coincides with the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, which is attracting prominent figures from the tech industry, including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sam Altman. The forum is expected to facilitate discussions on substantial investment deals, with Saudi Arabia reportedly pledging $600 billion in U.S. investments over four years.
For Silicon Valley, Saudi Arabia's vast financial resources have proven difficult to resist, despite the kingdom's controversial human rights record. The Crown Prince, commonly known as MBS, has worked to position his country as a forward-thinking technology hub.
American tech giants have been warming to Saudi investment in recent years. Google and Salesforce have both collaborated with the PIF on AI-related projects, signaling growing comfort with Saudi capital in an industry perpetually hungry for funding. For companies racing to build increasingly expensive AI systems, the kingdom's deep pockets offer a compelling alternative to traditional venture capital or public markets.
These initiatives are part of Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030 plan, which seeks to diversify the nation’s economy and reduce its dependence on oil revenues. By investing heavily in AI and fostering partnerships with leading tech firms, the kingdom aims to become a global hub for innovation and technology.